AEG Begins Transition From Ticketmaster To In-House AXS Ticketing System

AEG yesterday announced a new process that will "eventually eliminate Ticketmaster as its main entrance-pass provider for its facilities," according to Tom Hoffarth of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. Fans of the AEG-owned MLS Galaxy have "already seen" the AXS ticketing service in use at Home Depot Center. Next up is bringing the NHL Kings "into the fold, starting with Staples Center tickets issued this summer" for the '13-14 season. The Lakers, Clippers and WNBA Sparks will "ultimately have to decide if their seats will continue to [use] Ticketmaster or eventually come over to AXS." ESPN has yet to make a decision "for its X Games events that are often in and around Staples Center." AEG President of Digital, Ticketing & Media Bryan Perez and AXS.com Senior VP & GM Tom Andrus yesterday "explained how the system will work to some 1,000 AEG employees who attended a company expo at the JW Marriott Hotel in L.A. Live." Andrus said, "This will change the industry and improve the event experience for millions of customers." AXS VP/Ticketing Blaine LeGere said that his company "can do a better job than Ticketmaster in freezing out brokers from day-of online sales by having all those who try to buy tickets to enter a virtual 'waiting room.'" From there, customers are "randomly selected to be allowed into 'the store' to purchase tickets." AXS also "eliminates that $2.50 charge that Ticketmaster posts for people to print out tickets from their own computer." AXS' policy is to "present all service and handling charges up front so the customer sees them before agreeing to the purchase" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/5).